Tuesday, June 2, 2009

USA v Costa Rica World Cup Qualifying Notes

Here are a few game notes and short Costa Rican player bios to check out before the upcoming World Cup Qualifier between Costa Rica and USA on June 3. US Soccer has also put together an excellent rundown with additional info about the US team (link).

Costa Rica and USA are both 9-1-1 so far in 2010 WC Qualifying

USA World Cup Qualifying Record in San Jose, Costa Rica
0-5-1

Oct 8, 2005
L - 0-3 (WCQ '06)

Sep 5, 2001
L - 0-2 (WCQ '02)

July 23, 2000
L - 1-2 (WCQ '02)
Goal: Earnie Stewart (65)

Mar 23, 1997
L - 2-3 (WCQ '98)
Goals: Eric Wynalda (24) and Roy Lassiter (68)

Feb 12, 1992
D - 0-0 (WCQ '94)

April 16, 1989
L - 0-1 (WCQ '90)

Costa Rica Home Record since 2000
18-1-2

Notes:
Costa Rica has yet to allow a 2010 WCQ goal in Saprissa
Only 2 players who started the first game in the '06 WC featured in CR's last qualifying game
No player on the current US roster has ever scored on Costa Rican soil

Projected Starting Lineups: (Link)

Costa Rica Player Bios

GK
Keylor Navas
A young, talented goalkeeper who plays for Deportivo Saprissa (CR). He has been previously linked with a move to Chivas USA. (link)


DF
Gonzalo Segares
"Sega" has been a strong defender for the Chicago Fire in MLS since he was drafted in 2005. He hasn't been called up much for Costa Rica, but since Rodrigo Kenton took over as head coach, Sega's been a more important national team player and is a projected starter for the US game.

DF
Míchael Umaña
Back in 2005, Umaña spent a season with the LA Galaxy. He has since bounced around the Costa Rican league and has earned 16 caps. Umaña started at RB against Germany in the 2006 World Cup

DF
Freddy Fernandez
The 35 year old veteran Central Defender plays with Pérez Zeledón in the Costa Rican League. Freddy hasn't always been in the Costa Rican national team picture, but has forced his way in late in his career with excellent performances for his club side.

DF
Júnior Díaz
Diaz has been in Poland with Wisła Kraków since 2008. He scored the Game Winning goal in a 2010 qualification game against Haiti, in October 2008.

MF
Celso Borges
Borges transferred to Norway to play with Fredrikstad FK in 2009. According to Wikipedia, Blackburn Rovers, Anderlecht, Palermo, Manchester City, Werder Bremen, and Spartak Moscow have all been previously linked to Borges. He scored a goal in each WCQ meeting with Suriname in 2008. He is a play-making midfielder who just turned 21.

MF
Walter Centeno
If you've followed Costa Rican football at all in the past, you know Centeno. He is the captain, figurehead, and veteran leadership of the current team at 34 years of age. He featured in all 6 games of Costa Rica's previous two World Cup Final appearances. Centeno scored the game winner in CR's Hex Game against El Salvador in April.

MF
Carlos Hernandez
Hernandez plays in Australia with the Melbourne Victory and the 27 year old has represented the Ticos 20 times, scoring 6 goals.

MF
Armando Alonso
Armando plays midfield at Deportivo Saprissa and has scored 3 goals in 2010 Qualifying so far, 2 against Suriname and 1 against Grenada.

FW
Brian Ruiz
Brian is considered a rising star in Costa Rican football at 23 years of age. He plays in Belgium with Gent and has been rumored to be heading to a major league in Europe (Newcastle United, Celtic FC, Wigan Athletic, Heerenveen, Napoli) . He scored 3 goals in the 2010 CONCACAF Fourth WCQ Qualifying Round.

FW
Andy Furtado
29 year old Furtado plays in Costa Rica with CS Herediano. Outside of Walter Centeno, Furtado has the most International Goals on the current roster, with 13 in 42 international appearances. He has been in good form in 2009, scoring some important goals in the recent Central American Nations Cup.

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